Come with me, gentle readers, on a journey into the past of one Kurt Wagner. The date, April 1986. The issue, 204. The cover price, 75c.

Only one month prior, the rest of the X-Men had been summoned by the Beyonder into combat for his amusement. The being deemed Kurt unworthy, which drove him into a depression that we find him in as the issue opens.

Why is this issue important to the history of Nightcrawler? In it, we have all the classics of a good issue featuring the fuzzy elf. He broods, has a crisis of faith, jumps with gleeful abandon into adventure, saves a lady fair, and has a bathrobe scene.

The crisis of faith comes from encountering the Beyonder. Where most characters in the Marvel universe saw a very powerful being, Nightcrawler saw something with power levels associated only with God or Satan. Bad enough it would be one of those, but what if it was something else entirely beyond explanation through his faith?

Amanda (that heathen witch!) tries to talk him through it, even offering to call in sick to work. Kurt does the courteous, gentlemanly thing and accuses her of using her witchcraft to make him fall in love with her.

So yeah, she leaves.

Cut to a red haired lady jogging in the rain. She's quickly kidnapped by a big metal garbage truck looking thing. Kurt hears the sound (SFLANNNG!) and goes to investigate. He follows what he recognizes as one of Arcade's henchmen back to Murder World. Cue a page of ihm doing cool acrobatics, climbing, and working on a computer/security system while hanging from the ceiling years before Tom Cruise obviously copied it for Mission Impossible.

Arcade does his standard speech to introduce himself to his newest victim and sends her through a pinball (!) machine which lands her in a wilderness populated by redneck hunters and mounted hussars. While she's running, she falls into a lake and nearly gets eaten by a shark (robot, illusion, or hologram?). This is where Nightcrawler makes with the last minute heroics.

He wastes no time with introductions, glad to be playing the part of the knight in shining armor. This is how Kurt should deal with his brooding moods - go on adventures! He even references his amazing mini series Dave Cockrum had done not long before earlier in the book, while in the bathrobe. The rest is pretty standard action as Nightcrawler outfights and outthinks Arcade at his own game, which wins the grudging respect of the showman. The two are given leave to ... well, leave (This time).

While he's escorting Judith back to her apartment, Nightcrawler is in high spirits again. She brings him crashing back down with a lecture on how he's just as bad as those creeps back at Murderworld because he's hooked on the excitement. She goes as far as saying "The way you talk - if creeps like Arcade didn't exist, you'd have to invent him just to give your life purpose!"

His reply gets cut off when they find intruders in her apartment. As he gets ready for some more whuppin', they all kneel in front of Judith. They're from the state department of Ruritania, here to inform her that she's the last of the Elfburgs - the rightful Queen of Ruritania!

The issue ends on a double "?!?" from both Kurt and Judith.

I'm going to try and get a couple scans up, but if you want a copy yourself, it shouldn't be too hard to track down. If you can't find it in a dollar bin at your local comic shop, you can always order it here - Just scroll down a little.

As for the actual point of this thread - what did you guys think of this point in Nightcrawler history? Obviously helps if you've read this issue, but even if you haven't we want to hear from you.

Should the Beyonder have been such a crisis of faith for him? Or was he really more worried about the fact that he was left behind while the rest of the X-Men were taken? Did Amanda make him love her? Should he just ditch his normal costume for a bathrobe?

One last thing - as the thread title implies, we'll be doing one of these a month. Maybe an issue, maybe a storyline, maybe an alternate universe version of the character. What do you want to see? I've got plenty of material lined up for the next few months, but I'm certainly open to suggestions.

You always know where the X-Men have been
because it's always on fire.

That was a good, classic standalone issue. I particuarly remembering snickering aout how he bamfed into the bathtub from Amanda's balcony to shake himself off so he wouldn't get her carpet wet.

But I generally liked it as it shook Kurt out of his broody little mood that he was in at the time and he was able to do what he loved doing, even if it did get him a ticking off from his damsel in distress.

Wether he should have had such a crisis of faith is a bit iffy. I know I'd emo out a bit if I was in a superteam but got left behind. Maybe he took it a bit too far in the whole howling on the rooftops he was doing, but he simmered down by the end of the issue and seemed to learn a few things.

I liked that isseue. Kurt's geniality is a huge part of his charm, but occasionally it's good to see he has a temper. Plus, lashing out at someone he loves as much as Amanda would really send him on a guilt trip. (That's one drawback to this issue: it marks Amanda's departure until she returns in Excalibur, but past this issue we don't see Kurt deal with the way he treated her at all. Now THAT is OOC.)

I think it makes sense he would be astonished by the power of the Beyonder. Though we've seen plenty of impossibly powerful beings since, Beyonder was something of a novelty to the X-men when they met him. This is pretty early in X-men history. Up till then, they'd really only fought people at the level of Magneto, who is certainly strong, but also clearly human. Beyonder wasn't just strong, he also had an outlook on life and on the world that could be very unnerving so someone who had never encountered it before. He's the Hermit of all hermits. Doubt is a part of faith, the part that helps it grow. And the Bible warns to "beware of false prophets," so it's not unthinkable that Kurt might worry, at least at this point in his life, that his faith may be misplaced.

As for the issue overall, it was cute. It could have been better. But it was entertaining and, most importanty, Nightcrawler-centric! I giggled the whole while.

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young

Sounds like an awesome story... I've never read it. I love Arcade's character and Murderworlds, so that's one reason I would read it. But the fact that Kurt is romantic, broody, and adventurous (and nude ) makes this seem so great. But why did the beyonder reject him?

I think it wasn't so much a rejection as the Beyonder could sense the turmoil he caused Kurt, so he decided not to exacerbate him further. I don't know much about the Beyonder outside of those few issues, and his not taking Kurt with the other X-men obviously only increased the problem, but at least he was trying to do right by Kurt.

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young

Originally posted by Feuerstein
I think it wasn't so much a rejection as the Beyonder could sense the turmoil he caused Kurt, so he decided not to exacerbate him further. I don't know much about the Beyonder outside of those few issues, and his not taking Kurt with the other X-men obviously only increased the problem, but at least he was trying to do right by Kurt.

Didn't he want to create a world of harmony? If so, it would make sense that he left behind someone who seemed turmoiled.

I loved this issue, but I wish it had been followed up on more. Kurt going on a swashbuckling adventure didn't really solve anything, per se, just made him feel better for the moment. Judith's observations about him were interesting. How correct was she? Kurt's clearly (or was, at least) an adrenaline junkie and he clearly has a pretty brittle self-esteem. Makes sense. He gained acceptance by performing, by pretending to be someone else and he often does seem to play roles to the point where I sometimes wonder who the real Kurt Wagner is?
I loved that we got to see his darker side. I kind of wish it would come out a little bit more often (as that would actually acknowledge that he's a real human being).

Edit: Oh yeah, and the howling?? What was that about? Wasn't Kurt confirmed as human long before this?

Kurt used to howl occasionally, because that's what furry, animalistic mutants who get chased by mobs do, I guess. It was probably a Cockrum touch that didn't stick, obviously.

I agree with everything you said. "He often does seem to play roles to the point where I sometimes wonder who the real Kurt Wagner is?" I wonder, too. It would be so cool to see that explored. See all the stories the writers could come up for him if they'd just try?

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young

Originally posted by Feuerstein
I agree with everything you said. "He often does seem to play roles to the point where I sometimes wonder who the real Kurt Wagner is?" I wonder, too. It would be so cool to see that explored. See all the stories the writers could come up for him if they'd just try?

I think Judith even asked him outright: "Must you always play a role, Kurt?" She appeared to fall for him just a little bit, though. When Excalibur hi-jacked her wedding a while later, she was thinking to herself how handsome he was (should we feel sorry for the groom?).

I think Kurt should have a Doc Samson session. I think it could be interesting (and entertaining to watch him be dragged there kicking and screaming by Kitty).

I don't know if Kitty would be the one to do it though, since she has a habit of ignoring her own problems (see: Mechanix). I think it'd be funnier if after a team up with She-Hulk she notices some of the same things Judith did and hands him Samson's card.

Also, Peter David has to write it (See: both of his X-Factor issues with Doc Samson sessions).

You always know where the X-Men have been
because it's always on fire.

True, Idunski, but Kitty has seen a psychologist, and she was also the one who recommended that psychologist to Rachel. Plus, I can't think of anyone who'd be more likely, except perhaps Storm. Haha, but I love your She-hulk idea. That rocks.

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young

Originally posted by love_of_bob
Would Logan drag him to a psychiatrist?

No. Logan thinks Kurt is perfect. If he were going to drag Kurt to a psychiatrist, he would have done it in UXM #400, when Kurt displayed obvious mental problems. Also, I doubt Logan trusts psychiatrists.

I haven't read this entire issue so I will have to comment on the "bathrobe scene".

Am I the only one who misses seeing Nightcrawler wearing regular clothes, particularly the ridiculous pimped out "disquises" he used to put on to try and "blend" in when in public? Or showing up to "X-Men meetings" still wearing a bathrobe and slippers drinking a cup of coffee like he did in some of these old issues?

It said so much about his character.

I remember that Darick Robertson drew him in regular clothes a lot in the solo series and they were quite tasteful, but since then the trend has fallen by the wayside it seems. And Darick was quite adamant about it too. He even left a thread because of it...

(Actually the whole thread is hilarious. Particularly when you think about the fact that my first role as a Nightscrawlers staff member was to moderate all Nightcrawler solo series threads to insure that they didn't go off topic.)

I'll to that! There is just something about Kurt wearing civvies that is inexplicably charming. And if he had kept it up, we could so dig into his brain with that. I wish they'd divert back to that more often. Lately all the comics are more action-driven than ever. (While I don't mind that, I just need to pause and breathe a minute, you know?)

I do remember Kurt's PJs and his butt-kicking awesome nightcap. o_O;

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww if that were true. I dunno. You might have a point. Logan's so full of much worse issues himself and tends to lean on Kurt more than vice versa.

If he were going to drag Kurt to a psychiatrist, he would have done it in UXM #400, when Kurt displayed obvious mental problems. Also, I doubt Logan trusts psychiatrists.

The other X-men's reaction to Kurt's change in Casey's run was weird, though - they find Kurt knocked out, he's obviously had a run-in with the leader of their enemy and he shows no physical damage. Later on, his behavior starts changing...and they don't even consider it could have been a telepathic attack?? They don't scan his mind even though they have two-three powerful telepaths in the house?
I could maybe find Logan's hands-off reaction plausible if it wasn't for that.

Originally posted by Saint Kurt
I haven't read this entire issue so I will have to comment on the "bathrobe scene".

Am I the only one who misses seeing Nightcrawler wearing regular clothes, particularly the ridiculous pimped out "disquises" he used to put on to try and "blend" in when in public? Or showing up to "X-Men meetings" still wearing a bathrobe and slippers drinking a cup of coffee like he did in some of these old issues?

I actually don't think Kurt was being out of character in dealing with Amanda. I mean, if I found out someone I'd loved was lying to me all along about who they really were, and I forgave and took this person back, I'd wonder, in retrospect, if I wasn't somehow under some spell.

I do not think Judith's observations about him were correct, either. She was likely upset about the whole situation and lashing out at the nearest target. Now, while Kurt still used the image inducer while simply out and about, she may have had a point. Even then, however, he never used the image inducer because he thought there was something wrong with how he looked, but rather with how he was perceived. I always thought a big part of his character (except in Evo) was that he was comfortable enough in his own skin to not feel the need to put on a show. That swashbuckling adventurer who occasionally has some bad moods is not so much a role as it is a genuine part of who he is.

Meddle not with the heartstrings of fans, for we are powerful and hold your pursestrings.

I think Angelique is right in that Kurt is not ashamed of the way he looks per se... but I also agree with Saint Kurt that his reasons for using the image inducer run deeper than just wanting to avoid bad reactions. He's fine with the way he looks as a rule, but he has experienced loneliness and bad attitudess so he's had moments of doubt. That's only natural, isn't it - nobody believes in something all the time, 24/7. Even a normal person looks in the mirror and says "my nose is so big" and then goes some place and thinks, "they're all looking at my nose." Rationally you know your nose is fine, the perfect size for your face, but because we're human and we're dramatic and overly-concerned with being accepted by everyone, we sometimes make things out to be bigger than they are.

Though, in Kurt's case, people would be staring at his... blueness. He just wants to be treated normally, is what it comes down to, and that's not common when people aren't used to his differences. Hence the inducer. Plus some writers still like to write him as if he still fears he's part demon. I tend to ignore those parts... they're few in number, and detract from the essence of Kurt's character.

But I also think Judith was wrong. Kurt loves adventure, but he also loves peace. That balance is something he does understand.

Steyn: Oh sweety, no, the elvis boys are across the street at the wolverine forum
Tessa: LMAO
Steyn: here we do Paul Young